Devotees take last dip at Tatta Pani

Hundreds of devout Hindus today braced the cold to take a dip in the Sutlej at Tatta Pani on the occasion of Makar Sankranti, perhaps for the last time, as the entire area is likely to be submerged in the reservoir of 800-MW Kol Dam project.
Devotees who visited the Tatta Pani site, famous for hot Sulphur springs, were not ready to believe that this holy place would be submerged.
"We have been listening about this for past five years," some pilgrims said.
The Kol Dam project by NTPC, planned at a cost of Rs 4,527 crore and slated for commissioning in 2009, is likely to be completed later this year.

The impounding of water on trial basis has already begun and the reservoir is expected to be filled in summer due to melting of snow in the catchment areas in the hills.
Hindu devotees visit Tatta Pani to perform puja and 'Tula Daan', and offer 'khichdi' during this season from January to March, and the activity would be affected due to the project.
Kol Dam authorities have acquired the area and paid compensation to the residents who were moved and also provided them land for rehabilitation.